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Divine Power and Human Effort, October 9
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Titus 2:11, 12
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While Christ is cleansing the sanctuary, the worshipers on earth should care-
fully review their life, and compare their character with the standard of righteous-
ness. As they see their defects, they should seek the aid of the Spirit of God
to enable them to have moral strength to resist the temptations of Satan, and to
reach the perfection of the standard. They may be victors over the very tempta-
tions which seemed too strong for humanity to bear; for the divine power will be
combined with their human effort, and Satan cannot overcome them.
All heaven has been looking on with interest, and ready to do whatever God
might appoint, to help fallen men and women to become what God would have
them. God will work for His children, but not without their cooperation. They
must have indomitable energy, and a constant desire to become all that it is possible
for them to be.
They should seek to cultivate their powers and develop characters that will be
meet for a holy heaven. Then and then only will the servants of God be bright
and shining lights in the world. Then they will bring energy into their Christian
life, for they will put all their powers to the task, and respond to the efforts that
have been made to uplift, refine, and purify them, that they may shine in the courts
above. They will bring all their powers under the control of the Spirit of God; they
will study His Word, and listen for His voice, to direct, encourage, strengthen, and
advance them in their religious experience.
They will not be childish and be turned aside by the temptations of Satan.
They will deny themselves, not appealing to their own sympathies, for they will
be of a heroic spirit. They will hoard up the great and precious truths of God’s
Word; they will feed upon them, and grow into strong, well-developed men and
women in Christ, sons and daughters of God.
The greatness of the truth which they contemplate will expand the mind and
elevate the character. They will not be novices in the understanding of God’s
Word, nor dwarfs in religious experience. Conflict with the enemies of truth will
not shatter them nor weaken their energies; it will only serve to drive them nearer
to Him who is mighty to save. They will receive the discipline that will give
efficiency to all their faculties. Heaven will be brought near to them in sympathy
and cooperation, and they will be indeed a spectacle to the world, to angels and to
men; for they will be marked characters on account of their purity, their strength
of purpose, their firmness, their usefulness in the world.—
The Review and Herald,
April 8, 1890
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